JUVE Comment

SMEs, large and small, are confident their patents are in good hands with CBH. The Cologne team, led by Jens Kunzmann, has an excellent reputation for its advice on employee invention law. The Munich team around Stephan Gruber and Hannes Jacobsen is established in patent litigation with particularly close ties to its regular German SME clients. It also maintains excellent relationships with numerous patent attorney firms, which work with the team whenever their clients file infringement suits or become involved in disputes. Additionally, the team enjoys an excellent reputation in the automotive industry.

Both IP offices of the German full-service law firm operate a growing licensing practice. The senior and junior levels are solid, but the team is facing similar difficulties to that of competitors such as Ampersand when it comes to growing its junior ranks.

European set-up

CBH has been heavily involved in UPC proceedings from the outset, representing several clients in different cases. Both regular and new clients such as MSG Maschinenbau trust the national full-service law firm here. In the future, the team could benefit from the growing confidence of SMEs in the UPC, with its quick proceedings and Europe-wide scope. The team also benefits from its excellent relationships with numerous patent attorney firms that are willing cooperation partners in litigation.

Strengths

Employee invention law for companies, infringement litigation, especially for the auto and chemicals industries.

Recommended individuals

Stephan Gruber, Jens Kunzmann, Martin Quodbach, Hannes Jacobsen (“high quality and tough litigator”, competitor)

Team

11 lawyers

Clients

Litigation: Phoenix Contact against Harting over plug connectors; regular litigation for Heraeus, Magna, Purem, Schaeffler, Siemens AG and Siemens Healthcare, Voith Turbo, Wacker Chemie; Thyssenkrupp on portfolio management, licences and inventors’ law, Volkswagen on licences and inventors’ law.